atkinson



3 Sheets-Sheet 1;

J. ATKINSON.

WELL BORING AND BOOK DRILLING MACHINE.

(No Model 'No. 246,446. Patented Aug. 30,1881.

FIG-.1-

WITNE SEE (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. ATKINSON.

WELL BORING AND ROCK DRILLING MACHINE. I No. 246,446. Patented Aug.30,1881.

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h'll HIIIIIII FIE'rLE- WITNESSES} INVEN TUR;

- (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. J. ATKINSON.

WELL BORING AND BOOK DRILLING- MACHINE. No. 246,446.

Patented Aug. 80,1881.

FIGS- INVENTUR WITNESSES N PETERS. Pholmhlhogmphcr. wasnm mh 0 c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICEQ JOHN ATKINSON, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

WELL-BORING AND ROCK-DRILLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 246,446, dated August30, 1881.

Application filed February 19, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OHN ATKINSON, of thecity, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Well-Boring and Rock-Drilling Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of drilling or boring machinesdesigned to bore into the earth through rocks or other strata for theformation of Artesian wells, or for mineral prospecting or otherpurposes, and which employ diamond-studded drills with a rotary motion.

It also relates to machines of this kind in which the rotarydrilling-spindle is revolved by an engine directly applied, and in whichthe spindle is mounted on a vertical sliding frame supported onhydraulic pistons which control the feed or up-and-down movement of thedrill.

My improvements consist in a special manner of arranging and connectingthe engine and drill-spindle with relation to each other, in the mannerof applying and controlling the water-pressure on the hydraulic pistons,and in certain other details whereby important advantages aresecured,hereinafter fully setforth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 gives a front elevation of myimproved machine. Fig.2 is longitudinal elevation, partly in section;and Fig. 3 is afragmentary sectional plan on line a: a" of Fig. 1.

' Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts.

The bed-plate or base of the machine is indicated by a, and in plan viewhas the form of a T, the cross bar or head of the T being at the frontend, while the stem extends backward. (See Fig. 3, where the stem isbroken off.) From the head of this base and at each corner thereof, twostandards, b b, arise; and closely adjoining these, on the inner side,are two hydraulic cylinders, c c, fixed at the base to the bed-plate andat their upper end to the sides of the standards.

at e f indicate a vertically-sliding frame mounted between saidstandards and cylinders, and consists of two cross-heads, do, joined byfour rigid rods,f, the lower cross-head, (I, being guided between thecylinder on guides g g fixed to the inner sides thereof, while the upperand broader cross-head is guided on guides h h formed on the upper partof the standards I) I). The cylinders c c are provided withtight-fitting hydraulic pistons, as indibated by dotted lines in Fig. 1,and rods extend from these pistons through the heads of the cylinder andconnect rigidly to either arm of the cross-head 0, thus operativelyconnecting the said piston with the sliding frame. A rigid cross-bar,2', spans the space between the cylinders and is fixed to eachcylinder-head, as seen best in Fig. 1. i la indicates therotarydrilling-spindle t which the power is imparted, which extendscentrally through the cross-heads of the sliding frame and through thefixed cross-bar i, and is supported near its lower end on the lowercross-head by a grooved rim or head, 70, which rests on a circle ofballs, I, free to roll on a circular track in a cavity of the lowercross-head, as seen best in Figs. 2 and 3. The spindle is, as usual,tubular or hollow throughout, to admit the coupled lengths of tubing 2,which descend into the well-bore, and are terminated at the lowerextremity with the diamond-studded bit or drill, in the usual manner.Each end of the spindle which projects beyond the cross-heads d e isformed to act as a chuck to firmly grasp the piping t t and make asecure driving-connection therewith, yet admit of being readily loosenedwhen required to insert an additional length of pipe as the boringproceeds, or to allow of raising or lowering the piping,as circumstancesmay require. I prefer to form these chucks simply by slitting thetubular spindle with two or more slots, as seen in Fig. 2, and clampingthe slotted end upon the piping by two jaws joined by screw-boltssimilar to the halves of a journal-box, as shown best at m m, Fig. 1;but any other suitable form of chuck may be used. The upper end of thespindle just below the upper chuck is guided in a journal-box, a, inwhich it is freeto turn; but this journal-box does not-support any ofthe weight of the spindle and its attached tubing and drill, as thisweightis all supported on the hearing it Z on the lower cross-head; andas this bearing is on freelyrolling balls or rollers, the rotarymovement of the spindle is thereby rendered very smooth and easy, andthis feature constitutes one of the minor parts of my invention. Thespindle is revolved by the driving-sleeve 0, which eucircles the spindlebelow the upper cross-head, and is itself free to turn in the cross-bari, but is restrained from endwise movement therein by the hub of a largespur-pinion, P, to which it is fixed, and by a shoulder on the lower endof the sleeve, as fully shown in Fig. 2. This sleeve is rotativelyconnected with the drillspindle by the usual device of a groove on theone part engaging a feather on the other, which at the same time freelyallows the upand-down motion of the spindle.

Aindicates the motor or engine by which the spindle is revolved, forwhich I prefer a steamengine. In the case illustrated this is anordinary form of horizontal steam-engine, but, as will be observed, isturned, so to speak, on its side, so that its crank-shaft becomesvertical and parallel with the drill-spindle. The lower end of the shafthence revolves in a step fixed in the bed-plate, and above the step thefly-wheel q is fixed to the shaft and revolves close to the bed-plate.The upper end of the shaft revolves in an ordinary form of journalbox,0", and is finally terminated with a large spurgear wheel, 8, whichmeshes with the driving-pinionp, as shown fully in Fig. 1. Thisarrangement of parts, as will be now observed, is particularly compactand direct-acting, for the peculiar position of the engine brings itscrank-shaft directly behind the spindle and sliding frame, which isadvantageous and enables it to gear with the spindle by directspurgearing. Furthermore, the end of the shaft is supported in a step,which insures easier running than would be the case withhorizontallydisposed journal boxes. Were the engine placed in the usualposition with the crankshaft horizontal, it would not only occupy agreater floorspace, requiring the bed-plate of the machine to be madelarger and heavier, but it would be necessary to employ bevelgearing toconnect it with the spindle, which would not only be less compact anddirect, but also less smooth and accurate in its running, as it is wellknown that spur-gearing can be made with greater accuracy, possessesgreater strength, and runs more smoothly and with less vibration than isthe case with bevel-gearin g.

In lieu of spur-gearing, chaiirgearing may. be used; or, if desired, insome cases direct belting may be employed; but positive spurgearing ispreferable.

Steam is supplied to the engine A through the pipe to from any suitablesource, and a branch steam-pipe,0, extends from the former to thepropelling-cylinder ofa hydraulic-pressure pump, B, which may be of anysuitable kind.

The suction-pipe a of the pumping-cylinder dips into a water-tank, b,adjoining the base of the machine, while the discharge-pipe 0 extendsthrough the hollow of the bed-plate and discharges or opens into thebase of each of the cylinders c c, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.By this arrangement it will be seen that the hydraulic pressure isapplied beneath the pistons, thus tending to lift the same, and withthem the sliding frame at e f and drillspindle, and the machine is sodesigned that the pump B is worked constantly to exert a constant upwardpressure on the pistons, which will always tend to lift the slidingframe and spindle, while the downward motion of the frame and spindle iseffected by their own gravity by allowing a more or less free escape ofthe water from beneath the pistons. This method secures many advantagesover the system of hydraulic feeding heretofore used, where the pressureis applied to force down the spindle and where the pump is thrown intoor out of action at intervals. The water is thus allowed to escape fromthe pump and from beneath the pistons through a direct lateral branchpipe, d, which opens from the discharge -pipe 0 of the pump, and isthence directed into the tank I), and provided with a throttle-valve,f".Hencebyopeningthisvalve fully the water discharged from the pump, aswell as that in the cylinders c 0, will find free escape. Consequentlythe weight of the spindle, &c., on the hydraulic pistons will beunsupported, and they will descend, forcing the drill into the rock orother strata with a press ure proportioned to the weight of theunsupported parts. By closing the valve partly, however, thewater-pressure will become somewhat confined and a slight pressurebrought to bear upon the pistons, which will overcome some of the saidweight and reduce the pressure on the drill. It the valve be furtherclosed, the weight may be just balanced by the waterpressure, allowingthe drill to revolve without advancing; and if closed still further, thespindle will rise with a speed proportioned to the degree of closure. Ifthe valve be fully closed, the frame and spindle will rise till thecrosshead d strikes the crossbar i, when an adjustably-weighted valve,D, on the discharge-pipe 0 will open and prevent any unsafeconcentration of pressure on the said parts should the valve f be leftinadvertently closed for too long a time. This valve may thus be set toany desired or safe pressure, which cannot be exceeded without allowingthe escape of the water, and it hence prevents accidents; and it willalso serve to regulate the greatest degree of pressure which may be putupon the drill during the operation of the machine. Thus, if the valvebe set to a pressure less than sufiicient to lift the frame and spindle,the latter can hence descend to press the drill to its work with justthat force represented by the difference between this weight andwater-pressure, which may be rendered more or less, according to theadjustment of the said valve.

It may now be observed that this system of hydraulic feed for regulatingthe pressure on and advance of the drill is peculiarly adapted for itspurpose, and enables the action of the drill to be controlled with easeand perfection. It will be noted that not only can any degree ofpressure he put upon the drill, but this pressure is not appliedpositively, but, so to speak, passively, by the action of gravity, thusallowing the drill to descend into the rock or other strata with aregular passive pressure only as fast as it can cut its own way, and notforcing it positively to the cut, for it is a well-known fact that whilediamond drills cut their way rapidly when revolved, yet they are easilybroken and destroyed if forced to the work with a too rapid orconcentrated pressure,which is effectually obviated in my machine.

I prefer to use with this machine that form of diamond drill patented tome June 22,1880, No. 229,074; but of course any other suitable form ofdrill or bit may be used.

It will be noted that the water for the hydraulic feeding action istaken from and returned to the tank I), and hence no waste of waterresults by this circuit. Furthermore, by this arrangement the water usedmay be purified and freed from grit, used over and over, and completelyinclosed in the tank, so as to prevent any grinding action in its coursethrough the pump or other parts of the machine. This arrangement willalso allow oil or any other fluid of a good lubricating character to beused instead of water, and thus reduce friction in the pump, c.

Where a constant head of water is available from an elevated reservoirthis may be used in lieu of the pump to charge the cylinders c c; orthis pump may discharge at intervals into an elevated tank, from whichthe water-column may be led to the cylinders c c with the same effect asin the case illustrated.

The several motions of the machine are governed by the action of oneoperator standing in front of the drill-spindle by the three handles 1 28, projecting from the front of the machine, as shown clearly in Figs. 1and 2. The handle l connects with the throttle-valve of thesteam-engine, and hence controls the speed of the engine, andconsequently the speed of rotation of the drill-spindle. The handle 2connects to the steam throttle-valve of the pump, and thus controls thespeed ofthepump, and consequently the speed for raising or loweringthedrill, while the handle 3 connects to the throttle-valve f of thewater-pressure, and hence controls the lifting or feeding pressure onthe drill, as before described. It will be seen that all these handlesproject in a group from the front of the machine, as seen best in Fig.1, and in a position convenient to the right hand of= the operator whenfacing the drill-spindle. Hence one operator,while standing in front ofthe spindle over and alongside the bore, can tell by his experience, bythe motion of the drill, the character of the noises or vibrationemitted therefrom, the nature of the strata through which the drill isworking; and by means of the said handles in said convenient position,and controlling all motions of the machine, the operator can instantlyaccelerate or reduce any motion of the machine, and apply more or lesspressure on the drill in a most easy and certain manner, thus renderingthe operation of the machine under the perfect control of one person,and completely adapted to all requirements of actual practice.

Having thus fully described my invention,I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl. A rock-drilling or we1l-boring machineconstructed with a rotary drilling-spindle arranged in verticalposition, in combination with a reciprocating engine arranged inhorizontal position, with its driving-shaft placed vertical and parallelwith the drilling-spindle and directly geared therewith, substantiallyas herein shown and described.

2. A rock-drilling or well-boring machine having its drilling-spindlesupported on bydraulic pistons, in combination with a means of chargingthe inclosing-cylinder thereof from beneath said pistons with waterunder pressure, tending to constantly support and lift said pistons,with a valve arranged to confine the water-pressure thereon or allow itsescape with more or less freedom, to effect the rise or fall of the saidpiston or pistons with any desired speed or pressure, substantially asherein set forth.

3. The combination, with a rock-drilling or well-boring machine havingits drilling-spindle supported 011 hydraulic pistons, of a hydraulicpump arranged to charge the cylinders of said pistons, a controllablevalve to allow the regulated escape of the fluid from said cylinder andpump, and a tank arranged on the circuit of said pump, with the suctionand discharge pipes thereof directed into said tank, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, in a rock-drilling or well-boring machine having itsdrilling-spindle supported on hydraulic pistons which control the riseand fall thereof, with means for charging said cylinder with water underpress ure in a direction to lift said pistons or piston, and anadjustably-weighted valve arranged to allow the escape of the fluid-whenthe pistons are raised to their limit or when a given pressure isexerted on the pistons, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. A rock-drilling or well-boring machine constructed with an engine ormotor to drive or rotate the drilling-spindle, with means for producingthe vertical movement of the spindle, and a device to control saidvertical movement, in combination with a series of distinctoperating-handles, 1 23, controlling each movement, arranged in a groupon the front of the machine, adjoining the drilling-spindle,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a rock-drilling or well-boring machine substantially such asdescribed, the combination, with a vertically-sliding frame supportingthe drill-spindle, of the circle of balls or rollers l, resting in saidframe, and the bearing-rim k, fixed to said spindle and resting on saidrollers, substantially as herein shown and described.

J OHN ATKINSON.

WVitnesses: I

LAWRENCE VAN WYcK, WILSON S. WOLF.

